"Everyone Gets It" Campaign for Microsoft Dynamics

The “Everyone Gets It” digital marketing campaign is the first campaign of its kind for the Microsoft Dynamics business, providing a unique, role based online experience for the five key business roles relevant to Microsoft Dynamics – Marketing, Sales, Finance, Operations and IT.
Click the link/ Pix below:




Everyone Gets It (Link)

AX 4 AOS Basics: [Level 100]

You are well aware that AX 4.0 has gone some serious Architectural change . If we consider the "Chart Of Accounts" as the functional heart of an ERP system, then the AOS is the technical heart of AX :). Its a very important pece in AX and it has undergone significant changes in 4.0. I'll point some major ones for techie folks who are new to AX.

AOS changed to Windows service
The Dynamics AOS is now a True windows service and can be viewed in Services.msc window. It also means that AOS Exceptions is available in the Windows event viewer. In case of any issues regarding AOS errors, the same can be viewed in the Windows Event Viewer.Also the 2-Tier configuration has been removed. All connections via 3 Tier AOS Authorized only :)

Dynamics Server$instance-numberAOS-instance-name.
AOS Service:


AOS Logs in the Windows Event viewer:




Session management
Session info moved to database - No more .udb file in the application file folder which means no more writing the user sessions in the .udb file. The user session management has been migrated to the database making it possible to manage all user and business connector sessions from one console. It also makes it possible to view all AOS sessions from 1 console which was not available in AX v 3.x.User specific information is now stored in the database.


Active directory integration
All users must use AD Authentication to access the AOS. Also no more ‘sa’ / ‘bmssa’ authentication. Normally when we install the AOS, the default User is NT AUTHORITY\NETWORK SERVICEThis is not recommended in a production environment and the AOS must have separate Domain accounts with adequate rights and privileges.
The AOS account must be a user in the database and be assigned to the following database roles
• db_ddladmin,
• db_datareader, and
• db_datawriter
Also the AOS user must have execute rights to the following stored procedures in the AX Database
• createserversessions
• createusersessions



Normally when we install AOS, we select NT AUTHORITY\NETWORK SERVICE as the AOS Startup account. Later when we go to services and want to change the startup Account, the changes must also be made in the database for the new AOS User account.

Other Improvements

• You can easily restrict number of sessions for an AOS. You can now restrict the nos. of connections an AOS can accept from the AOS Server Manager utility in the main page.




• Load Balancing - You can now dedicate an AOS instance as a “load balancer”. For this you do not need a high end server. This piece will access all incoming requests and distribute to the available AOS Servers. Kind of useful in TS scenario. Also now we have NLB clustering features available.



• You can easily drain stop an AOS before removing from a cluster. It is useful for maintenance mode and during upgrades. This reduces downtime of the application.


• The proprietary AOCP (AX v 3.x) has been replaced by RPC. Improved Client Server calls.


• Enhanced server API securityLot of work has been done regarding security API & CAS.
Lot of new security API’s are available. (For reference see the whitepaper by MFP – “Writing secure code in Microsoft Dynamics AX

• Secured write access to the AOT & table permissions framework AOS
Table permissions framework helps avoid unauthorized access to AX system tables. Normally when we use the .NET BC / COM connector by validating against a AD User, the AD user Security (Set in AX) is bypassed :(.
This is security vulnerability. In AX 4.x, the table permission framework has been introduced to counteract this issue. It also means that now we can secure access to the AOT Tables. In the Table property sheet, we have a new property called AOS Authorization with the following values as shown. By default its set to ‘None’ for all tables except the System Tables (See table SysUserInfo where this property has been set to “CreateDelete”).




The AOS Authorization property helps us to enable security @ the server tier. In simple words, it tells to validate User Permissions for any CRUD operations on that table. The options for this property are shown above. If we select “Create Delete” then it will enforce User Permissions for Create & Delete operations on that table. If we select “CreateReadUpdateDelete” then it will enforce User Permissions for all operations on that table. That’s smart :).You also have this at the table level for specific user levels. There are 4 new methods in a Table.





• AOS authorization – All authentications via Active Directory.

• 64 Bit Table Level RecId – Now no more worrying about running out of RecId’s :)

HAPPY DAX - ing :)

Copenhagen Convergence Review | Episode II

Well Copenhagen Convergence was a nice event for me as I came across the AX Product team, saw AX 5.0 in action and learnt about the related technologies and ISV solutions for Dynamics AX. If you have been following the AX Technology wave, most probably you must have realized that X++ knowledge alone will not guarantee 'bread n butter' :) in the future. Some of the related technologies for AX Developers which must also be looked at ( at least some basic conceptual
knowledge according to me) are:

.NET [Preferably C# / ASP.NET / VB.NET and the Visual Studio IDE :)],
{http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/beginner/learningpath/default.aspx}
{http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/netframework/aa663328.aspx}
{http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/ie/bb188238.aspx}
{http://msdn2.microsoft.com/hi-in/office/aa905533.aspx}

Some conceptual / basic knowledge of XML & BTS for the AIF,
{http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/01/07/xml/}
{http://www.microsoft.com/biztalk/default.mspx}

Some basic knowledge about Web Services,
{http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/webservices/Aa740691.aspx}

Understanding WSS/MOSS basics would be definitely helpful for the EP,
{http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepointtechnology/FX100503841033.aspx}
{http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepointserver/FX100492001033.aspx?ofcresset=1}

MSSQL 2005 [SSRS, SSAS , BI],
{http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms159106.aspx}
{http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms175609.aspx}

Some knowledge about Business Intellegence - PerformancePoint Server
{http://www.microsoft.com/bi/products/performancepoint-overview.aspx}

Some knowledge about MS office 2007 [ Word, Excel, Infopath ]
{http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/office/aa905434.aspx}
{http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/performancepoint/FX101680481033.aspx}

The Above list is NOT meant to scare anyone.




Its just a roadmap for the future. Its better to be prepared. Knowledge can never be thrown away and we will
definitely find use for it, someday, somewhere. Considering the way technology is progressing, keeping pace with it has become a challenge. However a clear roadmap, plan and preparation will definitely help.In case you have not visited, microsoftelearning, see the link below. There are great e learning tutorials.
https://www.microsoftelearning.com/

Apart from related technologies, there were some nice ISV solutions for Dynamics AX:

ISV Solutions - AX Vertical solutions
{http://www.microsoft.com/dynamics/ax/product/industrysolutions.mspx}

thy:data and TARGIT has a nice solution on BI for Dynamics AX.
{http://www.thydata.dk/?lang=en}
{http://www.targit.com/}

bi4Dynamics also has a nice solution on BI with Dynamics AX
{http://www.bi4dynamics.com/ax.asp}

FSB Development has a great feature in AX called Inventory II. Its really interesting.
{http://www.inventoryii.com/}

LS Retail with .NET POS for Dynamics AX
{http://www.lsretail.com/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=215}

Hapy DAXING :)

Copenhagen Convergence Review

Hiii. Im back from Copenhagen Convergence. It was a wonderful event where I got to meet some very important people from the Microsoft AX team and partners. It was a great experience . There were some good sessions on future of Dynamics AX, Dynamics AX 5.0 and related technologies. The event DVD will be put up at the following location:

http://shop.ecompanystore.com/mseventdvd/MSD_Shop.asp

Its a really good resource for people who missed the Convergence.
Some of the people from the Dynamics AX team I met were:
Bo Teilmann Petersen - Senior Program Manager AX Projects
Michael Fruergaard Pontoppidan (MFP) - Chief Architect Dynamics AX
Palle Agermark - thy:data
David Probst - Program Manager AX Service Management
Vijay Kurup - Program Manager Dynamics AX AOS Server
Jacob Nielsen - Director UX Team
Akshey Gupta - Program Manager Dynamics AX Manufacturing
The Dynamics UX Team consisting of JJ Guajardo, Hans Have, Allen Prier, Claus Råe

... and many other stalwarts of Microsoft Dynamics AX

It was great to meet these folks and learn so much.
I also had the opportunity to meet and work with other Dynamics MVP's.
Please see the album below for some moments @ the Convergence 2007 Copenhagen. I will be posting more on the events .
Cheers

Convergence 2007 Copenhagen

Microsoft Dynamics AX High Availability Options

Discover and learn about high availability methods to keep your Microsoft Dynamics AX solution up and running. There is a nice webcast on MPP site regarding AX High Availability on 12/5/2007 12:00 PM PST . Try not to miss it.

Click here for the link [ Requires MS Partner Program Access]

Microsoft Convergence 2007 : Copenhagen

Well finally Convergence 2007 Copenhagen has started today with the Partner meet. Lots of action planned during the next three days. I will be available at the Microsoft Product Group booth for the MVP Program in the main hall at the following times:

Tuesday 23rd - 14:30 - 15:30
Tuesday 23rd - 19:30 - 20:00
Wednesday 24th - 13:00-14:00
Thursday 25th - 12:00 - 13:00

Do drop in case you are attending Convergence.

Cheers :)

Microsoft Dynamics AX CLR Interop

The .NET BC allows managed code to interact with Dynamics AX. However the CLR Interop enables external managed components to be instantiated & executed from Dynamics AX. CLR Interop basically compliments .NET BC. The way in which CLR Interop and .NET BC works is shown below in a simple diagram (Fig 1).


CLR Interop is built into Dynamics AX Kernel. CLR Interop provides developers with the opportunity to develop / write managed components (Visual Studio 2005) to run on the .NET Framework and interoperate with Microsoft Dynamics AX.
In Dynamics AX 4.01, there is a node in the AOT called “References” (Fig 2).

You Drag n Drop your assemblies there and reference it using X++ code. I have attached a very simple video which demonstrates this. It is a powerful feature which has been incorporated in Dynamics AX 4.0.
The demo is very simple and is meant to demonstrate how easy it is to reference managed assemblies from AX (X++). Recently I was doing some R & D and thought I would share this simple example. [Its a home video - and definitely not the naughty kind ;-)]


The video (Full screen & moderate quality) can also be downloaded from the following link



Happy Daxing:)

Dynamics AX Quick Reference

There is a neat Password-protected online file storage from Windows Live team.
Its called "Windows Live Skydrive". Try it out. I have shared the Microsoft Dynamics AX Quick reference guide using Skydrive.
Its a nice guide for people who are looking for information on Microsoft Dynamics AX.

Dynamics Partner Information Blog (India)

Dynamics Partner Information Blog (India)

There's a new BLOG in town on Dynamics Partners (India). Its a nice initiative from Microsoft Dynamics India team. Contains Partner information resources, training calendars and other useful utilities. Have a look at it and pass on your feedback.

Link to BLOG

Updated documentation for Microsoft Dynamics Mobile Development Tools and Microsoft Dynamics AX Mobile Sales

This is a release for Microsoft Dynamics Mobile - Released 4. september 2007

The documentation for Microsoft Dynamics Mobile Development Tools and Microsoft Dynamics AX Mobile Sales 1.0 has been updated.
The following components have been added to the documentation:
-8 new tasklet reference guides for Microsoft Dynamics AX Mobile Sales
-Updated information about how to install and configure Microsoft Dynamics Mobile Development Tools and Microsoft Dynamics AX Mobile Sales
-Updated schema reference for UserRole.xml

Click here to Download {Requires Partnersource Logon}